Carlos Sastre (Geox-TMC) competed in but did not finish both Basque classics this weekend, but he goes home with positive feelings about his improving condition. The Spaniard is targeting the Vuelta a España, to which his Geox-TMC squad earned a wildcard invitation.
Uncharacteristically, Sastre’s summer did not include a race in France, as his team was not invited to compete in the Tour. Instead, Sastre has competed in Slovenia and Austria. It will be the first time in a long time that he tries to take on his home Grand Tour without the rigors of the Tour de France in his legs.
“The truth is I return home happy because the feelings are not bad,” Sastre said about his weekend of racing. “I am slowly reaching the level [at which] I want to be at the start of the Vuelta a Espana.”
Sastre has struggled with illness of late, and has never regained the form that helped him win the Tour de France and finish third in the Vuelta three years ago. He had to modify his goals this season after signing on to a professional continental team that wasn’t invited to the Grand Boucle.
After finishing 30th in this year’s Giro, Sastre tried to maintain form during a sparse block of racing in the summer. “I came from the Giro and I wanted to take advantage of that bit of fitness,” he stated. “After Austria (where he finished third overall) I took a little break to regain strength, do some training, and face the rest of the season with good feelings.”
The break after the podium finish in Austria may have caused some heavy legs this weekend. Sastre didn’t reach the finish line in either Saturday’s Clasica San Sebastian or today’s Circuito de Getxo, but he indicated that there is no reason for worry.
“Some may wonder how I finished happy today when I didn’t finish either of the races. I have often said that it is better to withdraw at the right time, before you regret it. You can benefit from this in the future,” he explained.
“This is what I did, while trying to have a good race. I got some racing kilometres that I needed, returning to competition after the Tour of Austria.”
Entering a lighter period on the racing calendar, to get ready for the Vuelta, Sastre believes that experience will be a big factor. “At the moment, I need to keep working, accumulating kilometers in training. I have a clear goal on which to focus. That goal, of course, is the Vuelta a España. From this point, I know what I have to do,” he said.
On the back end of his career, the Spaniard has been a bit maligned amongst his peers, which may have been caused by his recent poor health. But earning good results again, Sastre seems to be rebounding, and he reflected a positive outlook.
“I believe I’m leaving behind all the problems and sickness,” he concluded. “Good health is beginning to be on my side, which has not happened in recent months, and I have finally found the rhythm that I want.
“When facing the three-week Vuelta, that is the most important thing.”